Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
“Who wants to take the boatercycles out?” Lovey shouts as we pad down the stone steps.
Three are tied to one side of the dock. It blows my mind that there’s close to a quarter of a million dollars in water toys attached to this property. Will these fragile bonds of friendship expire with the summer? I’m already getting caught up in this world, tangled in the vines.
“Dibs on—hot damn.” BJ pulls his sunglasses down, and I can see his eyes as they rove over me. “Excellent bathing suit choice, Snowflake.”
Lovey nudges me with her elbow. “Told you.”
“Oh my God!” Rose grabs the arms of her chair. “You already have a pet name for Winter, and it’s so cute, it makes me want to vomit rainbows and hearts.”
Quinn snorts and BJ shrugs, but he’s grinning while I’m over here blushing.
“Ignore the noise. You ride with me.” BJ stands and holds out his hand.
I take it and let him lead me over to the black boatercycle.
Laughlin lazily pushes out of his chair. “You’re mine, Rosebud.”
Her mouth drops open and then clamps shut. She fires the double bird at him. “Fuck you, Laughlin.”
Everyone stills for a moment. I don’t understand what’s going on.
“You don’t think my nickname is cute?” Laughlin approaches her slowly, sort of like a panther sizing up his prey. His hair is dark like the night, and his pale blue eyes are almost iridescent. It’s a little unnerving. Everything about him is. He has a vibe, like he’s a powder keg waiting for an excuse to blow. “As much as I enjoy Quinn’s company, I’m not interested in being that close to him unless one of us is checking the other into the boards, and Lovey is my sister, so it looks like you’re stuck with me. On the upside, I have it on good authority that one of your preferred Butterson brothers is on water patrol this evening. Seems like the perfect opportunity to create some tension, wouldn’t you agree?”
Rose rolls her eyes and uses her foot to push him back so she can stand. “I’m driving.”
I give BJ a questioning look.
He shrugs and passes me a life jacket.
I put it on and buckle up, adjusting the straps so it fits while everyone else does the same. Rose and Laughlin are first to leave the dock with Rose sitting in front, Laughlin’s body bracketing hers. They’re followed by Quinn and Lovey, who wave as they speed off.
“I’ve got my boater’s license, but I’ve never been on a boatercycle before,” I admit.
Obviously I’ve seen them all over the lake. Been annoyed when they circle relentlessly, the drone and pitch of the motors as irritating as a mosquito buzzing around my ear. Felt that deep pang of envy followed by the longing to have the wind whipping through my hair. And now I get to ride one with BJ. It’s a double win.
If my admission surprises him, he doesn’t show it. “You can sit up front and I’ll give you a quick lesson. They’re pretty easy.”
“Yeah. Okay. Sounds good.” I climb on and scoot forward to give him room.
The watercraft rocks gently as he takes his place behind me. His legs frame mine, and his chest presses against my back. “Hi.” His lips brush my cheek, and he pushes us away from the dock with his foot.
“Hi.”
“You ready to ride?”
“The boatercycle or you? Because frankly, both.”
He laughs and nuzzles into my neck. “Patience, Snowflake. I promise I’m not going back on the deal. But first, you learn how to ride this.” He taps the watercraft. “Then—”
“Fingerbang Friday?”
“Exactly.” He starts the engine and shows me how to steer, accelerate, and slow down. The controls are simple, so I catch on quickly and steer us in the direction everyone else went, but BJ guides us away from them.
“I want to show you something cool.” He takes over steering, and for a moment I think we’re about to run right into an island, but he slows down and cuts the engine as we pass through a narrow opening and end up in an alcove. A beam of sunlight shines down in the center.
“This place belongs on a greeting card.”
“Right? This is my favorite spot on the lake. Most people miss it because it’s tucked behind that.” He points in front of us, to the tiny island that obscures the view of the lake.
“How’d you find this place?”
“By paying attention to the things other people don’t, I guess.” He kisses the side of my neck.
“That’s kind of your thing, isn’t it?”
“Seems that way.” He laces his fingers with mine. “How has this week been for you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Lots of new people in your world. Lots of change. It isn’t always easy.” He rests his chin on my shoulder.
I lean into him, oddly at ease, despite his question. “I keep waiting for the bottom to drop out. I’m so used to disappointment that I’ve learned to expect it,” I admit.